Lantronix, a company which sounds like a Transformer, has added a home version of the xPrintServer to its lineup. Like its office-bound older brother, this xPrintServer lets you print to any printer in your home via AirPrint.
For the home user, the home version is way better than the office original. For one, it costs just $100, not $150. For another it supports USB printers (the pro version is networked-printer only), and it also allows you to share those USB printers over the network with a PC or Mac.
It works like this: Plug the tiny box into your router, and then plug your printer into the other end. That’s it, Now you can not only print from your iPhone or iPad to any of eight connected USB printers (you’ll need a USB hub to power more than one), but the xPrintServer will also make any network-attached or wireless printers available to you.
Neat, right?
If you have a printer, and you ever need to connect it to either more than one computer or your iOS device, it seems almost foolish not to buy this server. I, however, shall continue to use my tried-and-true DIY version of AirPrint. Step One: e-mail document iPad to family-owned neighborhood print shop. Step two: pick up the print job on my way to the market.